Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:54): (2612) My question is for the Minister for Planning. Over 8000 Victorians and counting have signed a petition by Save Port Phillip Bay calling for the Victorian Labor government to protect Port Phillip Bay from the environmental impacts of toxic discharge from Vopak’s Victoria energy terminal at Avalon. This project plans to discharge 480 million litres of chlorine-contaminated waste into water in the bay every day for a minimum of 10 years. Independent scientists and environmental advocates strongly argue that the potential risks to marine ecosystems from this discharge are vastly understated in Vopak’s reports. Given that Vopak has a clear commercial interest in minimising environmental risks of their projects, it is inconceivable that the government would risk the health of our bay by relying on their self-assessments. Will the government commission an independent assessment of the environmental impact of toxic discharge from Vopak’s terminal, rather than relying on self-assessment reports by Vopak themselves?